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When Columbia County landed a $13.5 million federal “stimulus” grant to set up a fiber-optic broadband network throughout the county, we editorialized a few words of caution.

First, the whole idea of a conservative county signing up for “free” federal money is just hypocritical; we can’t complain about federal spending while sticking our noses in the trough. Second, such technological infrastructure should be built by the private sector – not by the government.

Even so, we have it now. Like the child of an unplanned pregnancy, it’s ours.

It is intellectual laziness to say, as some noisy people do, that “all politicians are crooks.”

No one who speaks in absolutes should be taken seriously.

Still, it is extraordinarily troubling to see the conviction of Grovetown City Councilman Sonny McDowell on federal bribery charges. Not because it provides anecdotal proof of political dishonesty to the loud, lazy thinkers, but because it is undeniable that Sonny is a good man.

He also, at the moment, is a convicted felon. Those two things are pretty hard to square up. It just doesn’t fit.

Crazy, you say? Well, I’ve been called worse. Some dogs do have it rough, and I am doing my part by donating to the Humane Society when I can.

Like people, some dogs are homeless, but at least there are angels who pick up as many canines as they can and take them to a safe environment. From there, they can be adopted as a rescue dog. They go to good homes, have their own bed, are fed on a regular basis and, most of all, they are loved.

In the aftermath of the recently completed 2013 session of the Georgia General Assembly, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank my fellow attorneys who represent Columbia County in the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The lawyer/legislators whose districts include Columbia County are Rep. Barry Fleming and Sen. Jesse Stone.

These attorneys’ acceptance of the professional and personal sacrifices that go along with serving in public office is inspiring to and appreciated by their fellow members of the State Bar of Georgia.

Columbia County’s elected officials and agency directors this week, like those in neighboring communities, are working hard to catch the attention of Masters visitors with the potential for returning to our community and bringing jobs with them.

There’s plenty in Columbia County to show off, as Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Randy DuTeau discusses in his guest column today, as newly hired Development Authority Director Robbie Bennett talks about in a story today, and as County Commission Chairman Ron Cross wrote about in a guest column Sunday.

With apologies to the Christmas season, we locals can be forgiven for thinking that Masters Week is also the most wonderful time of the year. After a long and dreary winter everyone is ready for the annual rite of spring that is the greatest golf tournament in the world – The Masters.

During the next few weeks, billboards promoting a new underage drinking prevention campaign will begin to go up in Columbia and Richmond counties with the message: “You Booze, You Lose...” There will be different images with different messages. For example, there is one that features a picture of a young lady in her cap and gown that says: You Booze, You Lose Focus. A Web site will encourage young people to choosenottolose.com.